Breakable hydrant stem



E. E. CLENE Nov.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 PATEN'E' FFECE BREAKABLE HYDRANT STEllE Earl E.Cline, Becatur, Eli., assignor to Mueller Co., Decatur, 111., a.

corporation of Illinois Application September 24, 1937, Serial No.185,581

5 Claims.

This invention relates to Valve Operating sterns particularly designedfor fire hydrant use and has as its object tc provide a two-part stemwith .a frangible connection to which breaking stresses 're substarially confined when, as not infrequently occurs, the hydrant barrel isruptured lue to accidental oollision of Vehicles therewith.

In order that the invention may be clearly undertood have ilustrated itin one practical embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure i is a partial sectional view of a hydrant barrel or stock with aportion of the new stein shown in elevation.

l'fiigure 2 is a View similar to that of Figure i but showin'T the partsin a relation assuinabie as the result of a rupturing blow.

Fgure 3 shows in enlarged elevation, with a part in section, thefrangible joint between the adjacent ends of the stem portions.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure taken at right angles tothe latter, and

Figure 5 is a section substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The new stem is preferably associated with a two part barrel such as isindicated in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in those figures, the barrelcomprises upper and lower sections M3 and ll joined in end to endrelation by means including semi-circular frangible members 92 and 13 inthe manner su Jstantially as described in United States Patent No.2,017,600, granted October 1-5, 1935, to Herbert M. Lofton. Asufiiciently heavy impact delivered to the upper section if) will causethe joint to be ruptured and the parts to pass to and through therelation shown in Figure 2, as fully described in the said Loftonpatent.

Extending axially of the barrel is a Valve actu-= ating stem comprisingupper and lower aligned portions 24 and E5, the former extendingupwardly for engagement by the usual Operating means, the latterextending downwardly to a flow controlling Valve which is operated byreciprocating the stein. rl`he adjacent ends of the stem portions arejoined by frangible connecting means here shown as an I-shaped frangibleniember generally designated at i which I shall herein term adouble-'needed key. As here shown, the head portions i'l and IB of thekey are square in end elevation and are connected by a fiat integralbody portion E9, which is of such width as to lie completely within theprojection of the stem portions, which latter, as here shown, are of thesame diameter. I-Iowever, the width of the vkey may be less than thatshown so long as sufficient strength is retained for an operativeconnection, the thickness of the key body of course being also a factorin this respect.

The head portions i'i and i of engaged in transverse substantiallymating undercut grooves or recesses 29 and Et in the manner most clearlyshown in Figura 3, and it is evident that the Stern portions will thusbe held against relative aXal displaceinent and relative rotation. It isnecessary, however, that means be provided to hold the key in operativeposition and the stem portions in alignment and these requirements maybe satisfactorily accornplished by means such as the sleeve 22, wijchwill now be described.

.he lower end of stem portion id is provided with threads 23 except forthe extreme portion which is cylindrical with a dia-meter substantiallythat of the root diameter of the threads. Sleeve 22 an intermediatethreaded portion 25 engageable with the threads 23, there being endportions 26 and 21 free of threads and of a diameter to clear thelatter. Beyond portion 21 the sleeve has a portion 28 of a diameter onlyslightly greater than the diameter of the end stem portion 24 so as tobe freely rotatable on the latter. Beyond the cylindrical portion 28 thesleeve 22 has an outwardly flared or cupped end opening 29. The tip ofstem portion 15 is beveled or tapered as indicated at to substantiallymate with the flared end opening With the head portion of the keyengaged in the groove Zli, sleeve 22, which is preferably polygonalexternally as shown in Figure 5 so as to be engageable by the usua-lwrench, is threaded on the end of the stem portion i!! until itscylindrical portion 28 abuts the end thread. This provides suiiicientclearance between the end of the sleeve and the end of stem portion l5so that the head portion lt can be slid into the trans- Verse groove Eland the stem portions brought into alignment. I-Iereupon the sleeve 22is turned in unscrewing direction to cause its fiared portion 29 toengage slightly over the beveled tip end of stein portion l so that thekey member may be tensioned and a rigid whole provided. The length ofthe key member is preferably such that when it is placed under tension,as clescribed, an appreciable space 3! exists between the adjacent endsof the stem portions.

Since the sleeve 22 encompasses the transversely slidable portion i'l ofthe key, the portion H cannot escape from the groove Eil and holds thewhole key in operative relation to stem portion Ill. Due to theengagement of surfaces 29 and the key are 30, the stem portions, underordinary Operating conditions, cannot become unaligned.

In order to localize the break of the frangible key under the conditionsillustrated in Figure 2, it is preferably provided laterally with one ormore grooves 32 which are disposed in the space Si of the assembledstem.

While the sleeve 22 serves to align the stem portions in ordinaryservice conditions, its relatively slight engagement with the tip ofstem portion |5 will not unduly impede the assumption of an angularrelation between the stem portions such as will enable the key to break,the sleeve, in effect fulcrtuning on its lower edge under impact so thatthe key receives a stretching as well as a bending action. Regardlessofthe direction of rupturing impact the key will ordinarily be the onlyelement of the stem to be broken. Obviously, it is easily andinexpensively replaced.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in embodiinentto the specific disclosure herein and that changes in form andarrangement of parts are contemplated under the following claims.

I claim:

1. A valve operating stem for fire hydrants, said stem comprising twoaligned portions, connecting means including a frangible member for theadjacent ends of said portions, said frangible member being so engagedwith said ends as to prevent axial displacement of said portions, and asleeve secured on one of said portions, said sleeve having a portionbearing against and engaged around the adjacent tip of the other of saidportions whereby to tension said frangible member and align saidportions so that a norinally rigid and straight stem is provided, thejoint between said sleeve and the tip of said other portion being suchas to enable the stem portions to assume an angular relation underabnormal bending stresses so that said frangible member is broken.

2. A valve Operating stem for fire hydrants, said stem comprising twoaligned portions, coni necting means including a frangible member forthe adjacent ends of said portions, said frangible member being soengaged with said ends as to prevent axial displacement of saidportions, and a sleeve threaded on one of said portions, said sleevehaving a portion bearing against and engaged around the adjacent tip ofthe other of said portions whereby to tension said francfible member andalign said portions so that a normally rigid and straight stem isprovided, the joint between said sleeve and the tip of said otherportion being such as to enable the stem portions to assume an annularrelation under abnormal bending stresses so that said frangible memberis broken.

ani/8,929

3. A valve Operating stem for fire hydrants, said stem comprising twoaligned portions, connecting means including a frangible member for theadjacent ends of said portions, said frangible member being so engagedwith said ends as to prevent axial displacement of said portions, and asleeve secured on one of said portions, said sleeve having a portionbearing against and engaged around the adjacent tip of the other of saidportions whereby to tension said frangible member and align saidportions so that a normally rigid and straight stem is provided, thejoint between said sleeve and the tip of said other portion being suchas to enable the stem portions to assurne an angular relation underabnormal bending stresses so that said frangible member is broken, saidfrangible member inoluding a transversely slidable portion in said oneof said stem portions held in place by said sleeve.

ll. A valve Operating stem for fire hydrants, said stem comprising twoaligned portions, a double-headed key engaged in transversely extendingunder-cut grooves in the adjacent ends of said stem portions, said keyserving to hold said stem portions together and to prevent theirrelative rotation, said key having a relatively readily rupturableportion substantially between said adjacent ends, and a sleeve securedon one of said portions, said sleeve having a portion bearing againstand slightly engaged around the adjacent tip of the other of saidportions whereby to tension said key and align said portions so that anormally rigid and straight stem is provided, the joint between saidsleeve and the tip of said other portion being such. as to enable thestem portion to assume an angular relation under abnorrnal bendingstresses so that the readily rupturable portion of said key is broken.

5. A valve Operating stem for fire hydrants, said stem oomprising ltwoaligned portions, a double-headed key engaged in transversely eX-tending under-cut grooves in the adjacent ends of said stem portions,said key serving to hold said stem portions together and to preventtheir reiative rotation, said key having a relatively readily rupturableportion substantially between said adjacent ends, and a sleeve threadedon one of said portions, said sleeve having a portion earing against andslightly engaged around the adjacent tip of the other of said portionswhereby to tension said key and align said portions so that a normallyrigid and straight stem is provided, the joint between said sleeve andthe tip of said other portion being such as to enable the stem portionto assume an angular relation under abnormal bending stresses so thatthe readily rupturable portion of said key is broken.

EARL E. CLINE.

